::Poof::

She was there and then ::Poof:: she was gone

Yeah, so I haven't blogged since before Thanksgiving?  How is that even possible?  Time goes fast when you're making major life changes?  It's been a definite blur.  Holiday, Holiday, Holiday,birthday , birthday, birthday, birthday, birthday, birthday, family trip, holiday.  YIKES!  Thankfully blogging is not my job or I'd have been fired long ago.

Have you been a bad girl?

Well, honestly.... Nope.  I've been a very well behaved vegan for the most part.  I cannot speak for every ingredient I've had when I've eaten out but I've done all in my power to ensure I've been eating pretty darn clean.  The holidays were 100 times easier then I thought they would be- they came and went and I actually spent a lot less time in the kitchen then I had previous holidays and the food was just as wonderful so all and all we're pleased and see no issue in keeping with our vegan lifestyle moving forward.

Rough patches- there had to be some rough patches

Yes, indeed not all is smooth sailing... but when in life is it all perfect?  If it is the case for you please let me know what the trick is so I can enjoy too!

So what's up?

There has been continued issues with friends- who knew food was such a trigger for people's anger.  At this point I try not to mention food at all around certain friends- even when I'm eating it and it's the best thing I've tasted in my life.  I won't even say Yum if I can muster up the strength to control it.  It literally angers them for some reason.  It's put a serious wedge in 2 friendships.  One friend's husband explains that every time I appear to enjoy my food- it tells his wife that my food is better then her food and that's just not allowed.  Hum, what?  Seriously?  She also doesn't want to hear about any good food prices I've found unless it does not involve the word organic.  Buying organic means I'm now a snob apparently.  ::blank stare::

Another acquaintance will no longer even make eye contact with me during events with our kids let alone say hello.  We were always friendly but apparently I made a huge mistake with Facebook.  I don't talk to people about being Vegan- unless they specifically ask me.  In the event of being asked I answer the question as best I can and refrain from any tangents because I don't care to perpetuate the stereotype that- all vegans talk about is being vegan.   BUT I am also pretty angry about a lot of the things I've learned about the food industry and our government since becoming Vegan- I'm mad no one ever told me things so I could have woken up a bit earlier.  So when I find an interesting article or something funny about being vegan I'll share it or like it on Facebook   Just in case someone wants to know they can read it- if not they can scroll on by.  Well I posted an article about 3 cans of diet soda being worse then smoking a pack of cigarettes - because when I read it my reaction was HOLY CROW how do people not know this?!  Now I no longer drink soda- I see no nutritional benefit to it, but my only comment on the article was "you might think about drinking regular soda if you're a diet drinker".  Not- "soda is awful if you drink it you're a poor misguided soul who deserves what you get from the empty calories and aspartame".  So I linked it and what did I get- A comment "something is going to kill me anyway, let me enjoy my life." and my daughter is now the only girl scout troop member not invited to her daughter's birthday party and I'm completely not even worthy to say hello to.       Okay then.  People sure are sensitive about the things they ingest- you would think it would mean they would want to know exactly what it is then.

Good news far outweighs the bad.

I feel great.   I feel like I'm making huge steps in my life, my husband's life, and my kids to better health.  I'm 24 lbs down since September and working out about an hour or two a day- which comparatively may not be a great ratio for most people, but I gain muscle fast and have thyroid issues so losing lbs has never been my strong suite.  I made it through the 6 month mark as a vegan and kept going.  I'm still learning, still trying new things every day and still working on making more changes.

In the works

My current agenda is to move forward with cleaning up my house and personal products.  No more toxic chemicals where I can make a homemade replacement.  We shall see how that goes. I also want to learn more about meditation and work it into my daily routine.  Something is going to kill me someday, but if it's within my power I refuse to help it along any more.

Getting my grooooove back

Where am I?

So I've been MIA for 2 weeks- still sticking as closely as I can to my whole foods/vegan diet but it's been hard!  I was out in PA visiting my sister!  <3

The kids and I went without the hubby (he had to work!) and I thought for sure the hardest part of the trip would be the 12 hour drive with 2 kids solo, but it turns out it was the food! I had packed for the trip to try to not buy anything on the way, but my resolve wasn't as strong 10 hours into the trip as it was 3 hours into it.  I ended up cheating slightly by getting myself a McCafe Caramel Frappe and an Plain Auntie Anne's Pretzel.  I had intended to try out some meals I found (just add hot water) in my organic section that had great ingredients by asking for Hot Water at Starbucks or something, but the lines were too long and I was too hungry and too tired.  I ended up with a migraine and throwing up.  McCafe != Starbucks Soy frappe.  Apparently my tummy wasn't happy taking that step backwards food wise.  Won't make that mistake again!

The Food Shocker

I was smart and brought almond milk and breakfast stuff (oatmeal yum) with us so the first morning at my sis' we were fine food wise.  But I very quickly pushed to get to the store and YIKES!  The only store in the area with any organics was Wegman's - which I loved very much when we lived back in PA, but my fellow VegHeads it's been years of living in Indiana and I much prefer our food prices.  What do you mean that bag of organic apples is $14??? I had to pick and choose my organics to be able to afford food for Me, the kids and my sis, her hubby and her kiddo.  Rough!

I missed my food processor, I missed my Juicer, I missed my kitchen full of gear/utensils and a full pantry of all good ingredients- did I mention I miss my Juice.  I would like to state for the record that anyone claiming drinking fresh juice breakfast and lunch doesn't make a difference is a liar!  I lost my energy, I was cranky, I was constantly looking for something to munch on- I really really missed my juice.  I loved the two weeks visiting with everyone, but I was really happy to get home to my "stuff" and dependable prices.

Noooo not you again!

I had a total of 4 migraines while I visited her.  It felt like a setback, lucky they weren't severe or anything and I was smart enough to bring my meds but you're talking I had had only one/two prior in the 6 weeks before the trip (bad food choices both times).

The first was the last 2 hours of the drive.  I blame the drink and "food", and sheer exhaustion on my part and the kid's.

The 2nd I blame on the butterscotch schnapps which I should have realized were a bad call on my part. I had about 2 shots worth and could feel it almost immediately.

The 3rd was while vising my grandparents- they cooked pasta.  It was simple enough- not organic, not whole foods in any way and I tried to make sure I didn't each much but I also didn't want to make them feel bad- so I ate.  They were trying and trust me at their age hearing that their overweight, out of shape veggie hating granddaughter is now whole foods/vegan it's a bit hard to understand.  I didn't let them know, but I also didn't take the meds since I had to drive back home so it was a very rough night.  The fourth was a similar event with my parent's - it was very mild but just bad timing as I had to get up at 5:30 am the next morning to drive home.  It kept me awake till about 3am- so yeah not fun.

I wasn't sure if I should kiss my kitchen or my hubby first...

I've been home since Friday night.  I am back to eating my food fully- cooked in my kitchen, with my ingredients.  I've felt pretty grumpy and tired still but as of yesterday I'm finally feeling it turning around again. I'm back to my juice, and my energy feels like it's coming back.  I'm sure in another day or two I'll be back to where I was completely.  Thank god for good food!

Last night I made black bean soup.  YUM!

First I started some Brown Balsmati Rice.  Make however much your family needs.

-1 cup rice to 1 1/2 cups water.
-Note the waterline and swirl the rice around and dump it back out- rinse the rice 3 times or until the water is no longer starchy.
-Now fill the pot back up to that water line (or just below) and bring the rice to a boil.
-Turn the boil all the way down to a low simmer and put the lid on- cook 20 minutes with no peeking.
-Fluff away.


The black bean soup

2- 15 oz cans organic black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups organic vegetable broth
1 cup organic medium salsa
1 tsp ground cumin
Better than Sour cream (to top when served)
Veggie shreds- cheddar cheese(to top when served)

1) Get out a pot
2) Dump everything into the pot with the exception of the sour cream and cheese
3) Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer with lid on for 20 minutes +  ( I let mine go a full hour or whatever just more flavor!)

Now to the side/topping

Get out a decent size frying pan.  Put a tablespoon or two of cold pressed Olive Oil in it on medium high heat.  Throw in a heaping tablespoon of garlic and saute till lightly browned.
Now add:
   - 1/2 Sweet Orange Pepper (diced)
   - 1/2 Sweet Red Pepper (diced)
   - 1/2 Sweet Orange Pepper (diced)
I like my colors!
  - Corn- cup to cup and 1/2
  - Cherry tomatoes- diced up
Saute them in the pan till they get a bit carmalized then take them off and put them to the side.

Back to the soup

4) Get out your immersion blender and go to town smoothing that stuff out.

Now the way we do it is to have the veggies, rice and soup all available separately- because of the kids.  The kids prefer the soup with a dollop of sour cream and cheese with the rice on the side and the veggies on the side of that.  Depending on our mood the hubby and I do it one of two ways- Soup with dollop of sour cream and cheese with the rice and veggies on the side but mixed together OR I put the soup in our bowl- top it with rice, top that with the veggie and mix it all together with a dollop of sour cream and some cheese.  Both ways are delicious, have some homemade bread with it for dipping and it doesn't get much better then that!

Organically,
Me!

Are you buying orgainic? LOL

Is that a question?

Have you noticed that when someone asks about being vegan/whole foods the organic question is soon to follow?  Have you also noticed instead of that being a question with a ? at the end it always ends in this little tee-hee giggle?  It's this "I know something you don't know and if you answer with a yes, you're wasting money" giggle questions.  The first few times I was asked, it threw me a little.

My Current Answer

Yes.  The next "question" is something along the lines of " why, don't you know it's a made up label- that you're really buying dirty stuff from China?"  I'm sorry was that a question or an argument?  "Well, don't you know?"  I know what you're saying- I'm not an idiot (unless you count the fact I microwaved an empty cup this morning in trying to make tea).    I'm not as I've said- a scientist, nutritionist, Chinese or organic or a Chinese organic farmer....  I get the feeling you're waiting for me to say "OMG, are you serious?  Tell me more?  You mean I missed out on Penn and teller's expose on organics?"  Nah.  I shrug.  You don't want me to say what I really want to say.   I shrug and say "Okay."  This may be a surprise, but I'm not here to convert people.  You are hopefully a grown adult with a fully formed brain (age 24+ right? lol) and are capable of making your own choices.  I have no interest in changing or bashing you and your info. I'm sure that, indeed you did read that.

My real feelings

This may come as a complete surprise but- my blog name has nothing to do with the fact I buy organic or not.  I was going for a play on words... naturally, truthfully me or something along those lines.  I like how it sounds in the end.  I read read read as much information as I could on the subject of - buy organic or not.  In the end my decision was this:  I eat so many fruits and veggies in the day a ton- my family eats a TON of them, mostly raw even- the information is so all over the place the only I know for a FACT is: if you buy non-organic you are most definitely enjoying pesticides, herbicides, additives, preservatives and who knows what else that may or many not have been grown in china or in any other number of countries in the world.  No doubt.  We have food regulations for food being imported, and the sad fact is that the amount of foods actually tested is a very very small percentage- so we don't know.  The organic label may not always mean what it's meant to mean- but I know there are people fighting to make it a strong word, fighting to make it as healthy as possible, and outside organizations that really care testing those items and fighting for healthy, natural foods.  Is it 100 percent of the time exactly what you're buying- probably not, but I'll take a decent chance over no chance.   Don't you know your organic food is from china?  No, I don't know that, but while we're on the subject where exactly is your non organic food from?  Incidentally I buy local organic, so it's probably not from China since you know... that's not exactly local.  If I can do anything to keep chemicals out of me and my family I will do it, regardless of added cost.  I am also super lucky it turns out- our local store has created it's own organic brand which has considerably brought down the prices to the point it's maybe .30 cents more a pound then the non-organic.  My no longer buying meat products honestly has balanced out my grocery bill, so there isn't much of a difference.  Here in PA though- I will say I flat out exclaimed- "holy cow, how can anyone afford to eat organic/healthy here" to which several of my aisle-mates giggled.

The bottom line

Do what's right for you and your family IN YOUR OPINION.  I'm not judging you.  Really!

(Broke this week but still)Organically,

Me